Haven 55: perfect spring destination

Spring starts tomorrow and it’s a great time to take a little jaunt across the Missouri border to check out a one-ofa-kind eatery that lets you take in some local nature while you enjoy a worldclass meal. Tucked away on the banks of Little Sugar Creek in Pineville, Haven 55 is an incredible Slow Food destination.

Cozy and intimate with a view from every table, the dining room’s ambience is just the beginning of a truly outstanding culinary experience. While Mortimer, a blue heron, searches for his next meal in the creek, you can search Haven 55’s menu of creative offerings.

Those creations are the art of executive chef Alan Bone who hails from Pineville, where he started cooking as a teenager. He went on to graduate with top honors from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando, and worked and studied under several chefs before coming back home to open Haven 55 about 10 years ago.

The establishment is a close-knit family effort, with Alan’s fiancée, Micah, working the front, listening to customers and fine-tuning the experience.

This is Slow Food at its best, Micah pointed out.

“Everything that comes out of this kitchen is prepared to order. Sauces are sautéed while your chicken is cooking, and everything is timed perfectly. It might take a little longer, but all Alan’s dishes are prepared fresh.”

There are creative chicken and pork dishes with complementary rubs and sauces, a wide variety of fresh seafood offerings, unique and delicious sandwich creations, and certified Angus burgers and steaks.

“The New York Strip with blue cheese sauce is our best seller, and we have a big following for prime rib night,” Micah said. “But my personal favorite is the 8-ounce sirloin prepared the way Alan does it.”

Specials

Get your reservations in early to partake in Haven 55’s Wednesday Prime Rib Night – a mid-week tradition worth planning ahead for.

Or, try Crab Leg Thursdays—featuring one pound of succulent crab legs with two sides, or one-half pound with two sides.

Check their Facebook page for Friday night specials.

Haven 55 is open for lunch and dinner, and either is a great chance to try their fantastic fried green bean appetizer served with a creamy horseradish dip.

You’ll want to come early and grab a drink from the tavern while you wait for your reservation on Friday or Saturday evenings.

Rave reviews

The restaurant gains enthusiastic patrons every day, as more and more people discover this unique dining experience. Check out some of the recent reviews:

“We drove 139 miles (one way!) to try out this restaurant. And it was so worth it! It’s a cozy place … the service was excellent and made us feel very welcome. And the food was amazing! I had the prime rib, cooked to perfection! My husband had the Haven 55 chicken with angel hair pasta, said it was the best dinner out that he’s had in a long time. Dessert was a decadent rich chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. We will definitely go back for another food adventure at Haven 55!”

“Has a serene view overlooking a creek with geese swimming. Servers are excellent and food came out quickly. Starter with parmesan truffle hand-cut fries is a must! We ordered the club sandwich, pulled BBQ, grilled chicken, salmon BLT and everyone was very satisfied. Portions are big, so we didn’t have room for dessert – hopefully next time!”

“Small menu but amazing food. We had burgers with excellent homemade fries. But the real stars were the desserts. Creme brulée and chocolate bouchon. A perfect end to our meal. The restaurant ambience overlooking the river falls is lovely. Dress is casual. The food is fabulous and well made. The service was impeccable. Highly recommend a visit.”

Haven 55 is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Saturday. The tavern is open Friday and Saturday nights and serves house-crafted pizzas and other tavern fare. It stays open later than the restaurant to extend your night out, and they have regular live performances by local artists, as well as karaoke every Saturday night.

Visit www.Haven55.com and keep an eye on the Haven 55 Facebook page for changing specials, a detailed schedule of upcoming events, and to view the menu.

A meal at this hidden gem is the perfect dining experience anytime you want to enjoy a great meal in an unbeatable setting. Be sure to call ahead for reservations.